Control and Prevention of Nearsightedness (Myopia)



Is being nearsighted genetic?


No one knows for sure exactly what causes nearsightedness. But there’s ample evidence that inherited characteristics play a significant role. As the name implies, nearsighted people can see clearly up close but have difficulty seeing objects that are farther away. Also called myopia, nearsightedness is a refractive error, not an eye disease. Generally, nearsightedness occurs because the eyeball grows too long, so light doesn’t come to a clear focus on the retina. But why this happens to some people and not others are still not fully understood. Recently, researchers gathered data from more than 250,000 individuals from Europe, Asia and North America to evaluate the influence of genetics on nearsightedness. From this study, they were able to identify 161 genetic factors associated with myopia, most of which were previously unknown. And while each of these myopia-prone genes has only a small influence on the risk of becoming nearsighted, individuals who carry a large number of them have up to 10 times the risk of nearsightedness compared with others who don't have them.



NEARSIGHTEDNESS (MYOPIA)





MYOPIA

Myopia, also known as 'short-sightedness' or 'near-sightedness', causes people to have difficulty seeing distant objects clearly. It is estimated that half the world’s population will be myopic by 2050.1 Growing levels of high myopia are increasing the risks of serious eye conditions, which may lead to permanent blindness.


Pseudomyopia is a condition that (to the patient) resembles myopia (i.e. can see at near but distance appears blurred) but arises due to inappropriate contracture of the ciliary muscle as opposed to the standard causes of myopia (axial - eye grows longer than focal range of refractive apparatus, refractive - lens/cornea too strong & index - cataract



Symptoms

Nearsightedness symptoms may include: Blurry vision when looking at distant objects The need to squint or partially close the eyelids to see clearly Headaches caused by eyestrain Difficulty seeing while driving a vehicle, especially at night (night myopia)leo in varius. ​



TREATMENT

Nearsightedness can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses. Depending on the degree of your myopia, you may need to wear your glasses or contact lenses all the time or only when you need very clear distance vision, like when driving, seeing a chalkboard or watching a movie. . ​



WHY MYOPIA PROGRESSION IS A CONCERN


Some children who develop myopia (nearsightedness) have a continual progression of their myopia throughout the school years, including high school. ​



FACTS ABOUT MYOPIA


Otherwise known as nearsightedness, myopia occurs when the eye grows too long from front to back. Instead of focusing images on the retina—the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye—the lens of the eye focuses the image in front of the retina. People with myopia have good near vision but poor distance vision.. ​